Head-to-head · Best Charcoal Grills

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado vs Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about The heavy weeknight backyard griller who values push-button ignition, a built-in work surface, and a stable four-leg cart, but doesn't need overnight low-and-slow capacity that would push them toward a kamado. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Charcoal Grills

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado

4.4

$369

The Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado is the budget answer to ceramic-kamado pricing: triple-walled insulated steel construction, 445 sq in of total cooking area, cast iron grates, an EasyDump ash pan, and a 5-year warranty for $369. Smoked BBQ Source called it 3-4x less expensive than comparable Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe models with most of the cooking benefit. Trade-offs are real — flimsier side shelves, shorter warranty than ceramic, and a steeper learning curve for low-and-slow temperature management. Buyers who want true ceramic durability and lifetime warranty should step up to the Kamado Joe Classic III; buyers who just want the best kettle should pick the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch.

Strengths

— Triple-walled insulated steel body holds 200 F to 700 F across an 18-inch primary cooking area
— 445 sq in total cooking surface with cast iron grates and a removable warming rack
— EasyDump ash pan slides out from the base for tool-free cleanup unlike most cap-and-shovel kamados

Watch-outs

— Temperature control requires practice — the grill heats fast and is hard to recover from after overshoots
— Side shelves feel flimsy compared to premium kamados
— 5-year warranty is meaningfully shorter than ceramic kamado lifetime coverage

$369 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Charcoal Grills

Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch

4.6

$469

The Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch wraps the standard Original Kettle in a four-leg cart with a Touch-N-Go propane ignition, thermoset work table, charcoal storage bin, and 99-minute LCD timer. AmazingRibs awarded it a Platinum medal and Smoked BBQ Source called it the best mid-range charcoal grill. The 363 sq in cooking area is identical to the Original Kettle Premium, so this is purely an ergonomics-and-convenience upgrade — buyers who want a workspace and push-button ignition will spend the extra $240; buyers focused on raw cooking capability are better served by the Kamado Joe Classic III at this price tier and above.

Strengths

— Touch-N-Go propane ignition lights a full chimney of charcoal in 10 minutes without lighter fluid or paper
— Same 363 sq in porcelain-enameled cooking surface as the Original Kettle, with the same AmazingRibs Platinum-grade build
— Thermoset work table, three tool hooks, charcoal storage bin, and bottom wire shelf make a complete outdoor cook station

Watch-outs

— $469 is roughly double the Original Kettle Premium for the same 363 sq in cooking surface
— 99-minute timer ceiling is too short for low-and-slow cooks longer than 90 minutes
— Built-in lid thermometer is inaccurate above 470 F per Smoked BBQ Source — plan to add a digital probe

$469 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado

Captures the kamado heat profile of the Kamado Joe Classic III at one-sixth the price, but trades a lifetime ceramic warranty for 5-year steel coverage and loses Divide & Conquer plus the SloRoller insert. Cooking area (445 sq in) exceeds the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch (363 sq in) at a similar price band but build quality is thinner. Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch is the same money in a kettle format with a workspace and gas ignition. PK Grills PK300 trades the kamado profile for cast aluminum portability — different cooking philosophy entirely.

Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch

Shares the porcelain-enameled bowl and cooking surface of the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch, but adds a Touch-N-Go propane ignition, work table, and storage cart for roughly $240 more. Far less capable than the Kamado Joe Classic III for long cooks (no ceramic insulation, no overnight burn), and at this price the kamado tier starts to make sense if smoking is your focus. The Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado costs slightly less and offers ceramic-style insulation in exchange for thinner construction. PK Grills PK300 is the portable cast-aluminum alternative if you want a workspace and dual-zone cooking on a smaller footprint.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado	Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch
Cooking Area	325 sq in primary, 445 sq in total	363 sq in
Diameter	20 inches	22.5 inches
Material	Triple-walled carbon steel body	Porcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid
Cooking Grate	Cast iron	—
Dampers	Dual adjustable (top and bottom)	—
Ash Catcher	EasyDump slide-out ash pan	Enclosed One-Touch high-capacity
Wheels	Locking caster wheels	Two large all-weather
Heat Range	200-700 F	—
Weight	88 lb	100 lb
Warranty	5 years	10 yr bowl/lid, 5 yr One-Touch, 2 yr other parts
Cart	—	Four-leg cart with thermoset work table
Ignition	—	Touch-N-Go propane (1 lb tank)
Lid Thermometer	—	Built-in plus 99-min LCD timer

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